Need a saint to assist in an impossible situation? Turn to St. Jude!
St. Jude, brother of St. James the Less and cousin to Jesus, is the patron saint of hopeless and impossible causes. He is a powerful friend to turn to in times of difficulty, and I can attest firsthand that his help is speedy, miraculous, and powerful.
St. Jude was an Apostle of Jesus, and he was born in the same region Jesus grew up in. A farmer by trade, his mother, Mary, was referred to as a cousin of the Blessed Mother. St. Jude’s father, Cleophas, was also St. Joseph’s brother.
He was a married saint, having at least one child and grandchildren. While we cannot know for certain, and while the identities of the bride and the groom are debated, some believe that the famous wedding feast at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine was St. Jude’s wedding feast!
As an Apostle, he traveled to Mesopotamia (today, known as Iraq), Libya, Turkey, and Persia, evangelizing and converting. His short Epistle near the end of the Bible is an exhortation to hold fast to the faith and reject false preachers.
Around 65 AD, he was martyred by an axe or club. Today, pilgrims can visit his tomb beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
Devotion to this miracle-working saint spread in Italy and Spain in the 1800’s, then in the United States during the Great Depression and World War II, particularly among new European immigrants. Thousands began attending novenas at the National Shrine, invoking his intercession in some of the most difficult times.
St. Jude’s feast day is October 28th, and those devoted to St. Jude may choose to time their novena around this day. However, a novena to St. Jude is appropriate at any time of year when powerful help is needed, or when one wishes to strengthen their relationship with this saint.
Below is a beautiful novena prayer for nine consecutive days. Please comment below with any answered prayers from this wonderful and miracle-working saint. God bless you!
Novena Prayer
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly…
(Mention your request here)
…and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.
Say 1: Our Father…
Say 1: Hail Mary…
Say 1: Glory Be…
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Marisa Cantu has a master's in political science and international affairs and a bachelor's in political science. She has also studied international studies and French. She has a strong background in nonprofit work, research, writing, and policy proposal and analysis.